Christmas cards and great news!

Sunset over snowy paddock

I'm just having some Christmas cards printed with this one on, blank inside for your own message, it's a bit last minute really! If you'd like any just let me know and I can post some out to you :-)

I had some fantastic news yesterday, I've had a painting accepted into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters annual exhibition! I'm so extra happy about it as it's the first time I've had a painting accepted there since I was a young artist (under the age of 35!). The exhibition runs from the 12th December to the 23rd December at the Mall galleries, London.

It was my painting 'Incoming tide, Hook head' that I painted in July in Ireland, that was accepted. I can't wait for the Private view :-)

Incoming tide, Hook Head
Oils on canvas 12" x 16"

Do you remember I told you recently that I'd designed a little book of my 2012 paintings? It's only small, 7" x 7", but it is rather sweet. I've matched up my paintings with my favourite inspirational quotes. 

Click here if you'd like to see a preview of the book :-)

London painting

Apologies for blurred photography!

I had a great visit to London today! I was lucky to be able to paint with the supremely talented Adebanji Alade, and it was so much fun painting side by side and chatting! Makes a lovely change from painting alone singing along to the limited number of songs on my iPhone!

When we started the sky was clear and blue, the shadows crisp. As usual I thought I would get a few done but didn't! I worked on this little 8" x 10" for maybe three hours. Adebanji was working at the same size, but he was taking a further view than me and looking all the way up the road to Pall Mall at the top. (That was going to be my second painting!)

By the time we finished I was looking at a totally different scene! The sky was black, the front of the big building was darker than the side - you name it! All change!

Here's Adebanji hard at work with his ever-appreciative audience! 

I had my back to an enormous column so people had to be fairly cheeky to come and see mine!

I will get a better photo of my painting to show you, and I feel I'd like to do a studio piece based on it. I also have a sketch and a couple of photos to support it.

Hope you have a good weekend :-)